Cigarette case



Jan. 25, 1944. P, 1 MccooN ,4 2,339,937

CIGARETTE CASE Filed April 25, 1941 Patented Jan. 25, 1944 f' Paul L.McCoon, Los An Trijex Corporation,

fornia geles, Calif., assigner to corporation of Cali- Applicaton April25, 1941, Serial No. 390,266 3 Claims. (Cl. 20G-41.2)

'I'his invention relates tocontaining and'holding means and hasparticular reference to means for containing cigarettes for immediateconvenient use. A general object of this invention is Aand occupants.

Many automobile accidents have occurred by reason of the driver removinghis hands `from ing to withdraw a cigarette from the usual papercigarette package. The locating of the package and the withdrawal ofthecigarette `not only requires the removal of one or both hands from thesteering wheel but distracts the drivers attention from the control ofthe vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide appointments of thevehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide z a holder or bracketreadily mounted on the dash*k of the vehicle by one of the screws of theWindshield molding or dash molding to occupy a position Where it isreadily accessible to the driver Another object of this invention' is toprovide a holder or bracket of the character referredto that is adaptedto receive and dependably hold conventional cigarette packages as wellas the cigarette case of the invention.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette caseembodying novel and highly ef- Another object of this invention is toprovide a cigarette ca'se having parts' on the cover and bottom wall forholding `the endmost or outer-` mos free of the other cigarettes and forholding said other cigarettes withdrawn without cigarettes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette case 'of theclass referred to embodying very eiective means for advancingthecigarettes toward the outlet end of the case as the cigarettes arewithdrawn which means maintains the cigarettes in and withdrawal.

cigarettes. The lentire contents y.of a full package of cigarettes maybe into the 'case of the invention by merely starting theentire group ofcigarettes intothe case from my invention, hich description reference ismade. companying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the windshield and moldingof an automobile, or the againstpremature advancef ment so that theoutermost cigarettes may be' interference `from said other uprightpositions and in an or- -derly arrangement for successive'advancementAnother object of this invention is to provide' simultaneouslylintroducedv like, showing the holder tion secured to the molding andsupporting the cigarette case. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical detailedsectional view of moved from the vehicle showing the case cover in theopen position. Fig. 3 is a vertical detailed sectional view taken asindicated by line 3-3 on 2 and Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical detailed sectional view-A illustrating an`` other form ofspring means that may be embodied in the case.

The present invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing,may be said to comprisez generally, a holder or bracket I forreadyinstallation in an automobile or similar vehicle, anda; case forthe cigarettes removably inserted' in the bracket I0 including a casebody II, a. cover I2 hinged on the body II and a blade. l'3i in the:body l I for holding the cigarettes C in an orderly upright conditionand for advancing thev cigarettesacross the case forreadyyremovaltherefrcnr.

The.y holder or bracket H'Ii` is'- intended to--be mounted on arelatively` stationary. supportandis primarily designed to. besecured'inthe drivers compartment of an; automobile'truck oi. thelike.The bracket I0 is shaped and constructed tore.- movably support and holdthe cigarette-caseof the invention or, if desired,I thev conventionalIPaper packagesv of cigarettes,4 serving: to-hold either in such a4manner that the cigarettesare immediately and readily accessible. Inaccordance; with the,- invention the bracketv I0 is constructed so thati-tmay be quickly and` securely attached to the dash board portion ofthe vehiclefby---oneof the screws I5 of the molding I-6- which-extendsalong theupperedge. of the dash board.

The bracket I-G isformed ofsheetmetal, thermo plastic,l orv similarmaterial having; a substantial degree of resiliency. In the-preferred,construe.- tionthebracket; I'Ili's anv integral or one piece. memberland comprises a. rear wall I1 and two: spaced side walls I8' extend-ingforwardly from therear wall in spaced apartY generally parallelrelation` The rearA wal-l. I1 may' bef plain and;

iiatv except for an openingl I9 adjacentits-lowerI end. The side wallsI8 may be flat and substantiallyvertical and have straight lowery edges.The upper edges of the sidewalls i8 arestepped having forward portionsstepped downwardly aI substantial distance from the top of the bracket.out away or stepped? formation of the bracket sides. la makes thepackage" of cigarettes or the cigarette case readily accessible.. yHorizontal slots orwindows 2.I are formed inthe sides I8 for the purposeto be later described.V Inturned flangesv or wings 22' extend along-theverticali for-` ward edges of the forwardly stepped' lower portion-s ofthe sidewalls I8;` The wings. 22 lie'7 in a common planel and are.substantially parallel with the rear wall izontal flanges 23. extendalong the lower edges of the side walls I8. The bracket I0 isproportioned softhat the case oi the, invention; or thel conventional`paper package` ofi-cigarettes may ber in serted downwardly between theside. walls. t8: tov have. its lower end rest on the flanges 23'.rv Thecigarette case or package is dependably retained and positioned betweenspaced side.- walls I8n the rear wall I1 and the front wings 22.,

In accordance` withv the invention thesidewalls I8 are formed to. gripand hold. the case.- orfpack.-

age through their resiliency. Theiside.- walls IB may be slightlyconvergent, in- :al-.forward-i direction-- or slightly convergent inan2upward direction, or both, toexert a gripping- I;1. Similar inturnedgenerally hor.

forcer on n of the wall. The mounting tongue and; preportioned' I-f.; inpractice-,thetongue 24.v may be shaped' `togfit againstitl-ie;moldings-v of practically all makes.`

'dinallyextending; corrugations 26,- enter-s thef tongue 24 the case orpackage to dependably hold the same and prevent vibration and rattling.The wings 22 may also press inwardly on the forward side of the case orpackage so that the case or 'package is gripped between the wings andthe rear wall I1. The cut back or stepped side walls I8 eirposesubstantial portions of the case or packagento leave extensive forwardparts, of the case or package tully visible,- and accessible.

The invention embodies novel means for facilitating the mounting orattachment of the bracket I." The mounting means adapts the bracket Illforf quick easy attachment to the dash board portion of the vehicle. Theimproved mounting -i mea-ns includes an upwardly and rearwardly pro-'ecti'ng tab or` tongue 24 on the back of the bracket IIJ. The tongue 24may be an integral continuation orl extension of the rear wall I1turnedv forwardly and rearwardly at the lower end 24 is shaped to-Abearagainstfthef molding and styles. of modern cars.Y and may havelongitu- 25 to give it. in-

longitudinal slot from, its upper end to I5 of the molding I6.

creased rigidity. Anopening; or

receive aselected screw In. mounting the bracket the screw I5 is merelyloosenedv or backed olf a suitable distance whereupon thetongue 2l! is.slid upwardly under the head of the screw I5 so, that the screw isreceived inthe slot 26. Withthe bracket I0 upright vand positioned Y asdesired back, dow-n.. Theopen-ing I9 in the rear wall I1 makes the screwI5 easily accessible for the tightenng down operation. The mountingtonguey 24 is formed and' pitched. to support the bracket I0 in anupright position as shown-` in, Fig. 1 when secured tothe molding; Iiiasjust described,

The case is adapted to be received and held in the bracket- IIljust.described and is designed to receivey and contain the enti-rev contentsof a conventional package. of` cigarettes.- The case body H- isasocketedor hollow rectangular member comprising a walls-*28 and 29 andside walls 30. The case body #Ii-is preferably` ari integral or onepiece structure-andv it.- ispreferred to construct the body in whole. orin part of transparent material so that its contents are` readilyvisible. The front, rear and; side wallsv 28, 29.y and 30 are verticalor normal to the bottom wall- 211 and the body II is proportioned sothat the fron-t, rear and side walls areclosel-yreceivedin the bracketI0. The resilient side walls I8 of the bracket IIJ bear inwardly againstthe case side walls 30 and the rear-wall I1 and front wings 22 of thebracket may-likewise have gripping and.v holding engagement with-thebodyII. The bottom wall 21 of the-case body Il is adapted to rest on theiianges 23 The case body II is proportioned to extend upwardlybeyond theupper edge of the bracket ws, therebeing substantial portions. of theside walls 3i)l and frontA wall 23A fully exposed and engageable. byreason ofy the stepped formation of the bracket sides I8; In thepreferred construction, the upper edgesl of the side walls 3D curvedownwardlyv and forwardly from a vertical plane aboutmidway between thefront and back of the case. This is. illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawing where it will be observed that. the curved upper edgesl of thecase the screw I5 is tightened' bottom wall 2'1,4 front and rear body-II are spaced a substantial distance above the stepped upper- I8. Theheight portions of the otherwise exposed portions of cigarettes. Thecase body II, just described, is light in weight and its walls may bequite thin so that its over all size is only slightly greater than theover all size of a conventional paper package of cigarettes.

The cover I2 is adapted to close the upper end of the case body II andis hinged to the body so that it may be swung between the open andclosed positions. The cover I 2 may be a one piece member of the samematerial as the case body II or of other appropriate material. When thecover I2 is in its closed position it lies parallel with the case bottomwall II and has decase body I I left open by reason of the sloping upperedges of its side walls 30. 'I'he parts SI and 32 are adapted to lie ushwith the front and side walls 2B and 30 of the case body II. The sidewalls I8 and the cooperating marginal portions of the cover I2 and itsstepped edges of reduced width over the other to provide a better sealwhen the cover is closed and to resist lateral shifting of the coverrelative to the case body. The upper end of the case front 28 and thefront part32 of the cover I2 have pitched or sloping cooperating edges.

The hinge for the cover I 2 includes a hinge pin 33 passed throughopenings in the side walls I8 and having its end parts received in ears34 on the cover I2. The ears 34 are received in recesses or pockets inthe upper rear corners of the case body II. A stop ridge 35 may extenddownwardly along the rear edge of the cover I2 to engage the rear wall29 of the case body for the purpose of limiting the opening movement ofthe cover. The cover I2 is preferably stopped in a fully raised oropened condition such as illustrated in Fig. 2. Means are preferablyprovided for normally holding the cover I2 in its closed position. Thiswhich lap one part 32, which is adapted to spring or snap into or out ofholding cooperation with the catch 35.

the latch 31 in cooperation with the catch 36 and provides for theproper latchoperation.

Spring means is provided for moving the cover raising force on -thecover I2 and upon the re- 'located to engage spring arm lease of thelatch 31 the cover swings upwardly to its full open position.

tion with the front wall 28. The ridge 42 is positioned to be receivedbetween the rst and secthe foremost cigarettes from moving forward andto prevent said cigarettes from binding against the foremost cigarettes.This leaves the foremost cigarette free to be withdrawn withoutinterference from the other unwanted movement or other cigarettes whenthe withdrawn.

The under side of the cover spaced transverse ridges 43.

displacement of the forward cigarettes are I2 has a pair of The ridges43 are downwardly against the upper ends of the second row of cigarettesC and the third row of cigarettes C. When the cover I2 is closed theridges d3 serve to break or release to prevent premature forwardadvancement of the cigarettes under the action of the blade I 3 andprevent tipping or tilting of the cigarettes from the verticalpositions, and at the same time assisting in maintaining the cigarettesin regular rows.

The blade 33 to pivotally of the invention illustrated specifically inFigs. 2 and 3 of the drawing the spring 38 the cover through itsinherent resiliency.

45 acting forwardly upper portion The and upwardly of the bowed blademost effective manspring actuated resilient blade I3 presents a curvedor convex active face which bears against the rearmost row of cigarettesC in a plane spaced a substantial distance above the lower ends of thecigarettes and this spring pres sure maintains the cigarettes in acompact orderly group and adyances the cigarettes to the forward end ofthe case for removal.

against the 4. ,fracasar- Whenthe case is being filled? the blade t3;is; pressed rearwardly to lie substantiallyatiagainst;

corner of the wall 29 so that the case parts do not interferewith theflat retraction of the blade When: the blade i3. against the rear wall2%. i3 is retracted against the rear: wall 29, as just described, thespring armv 45 likewise retracts and lies flat against the wall 29.

Fig. 4 of the drawing illustrates' a slightly modified form oiconstruction wherein a separate spring` 5t is employed to actuateV the4blade I3.

In this construction the spring 38 may be as.

described above with its parts 39 and 4E! bearing against the rear wall'2Q and `the under side of the cover l2, respectively. The spring 5% isengaged on the hingepin 33 in adjacent relation to the spring 38, thetwo springs beingv received between the spaced tubes or rolls 14 of theblade I3. The spring 50 has one projecting end part .d

5l bearing rearwardly against the rear wall 29 and has a longer part 52on its other end bearing forwardly against the rear side of the bladeI3. The spring part 52 operates in the same way as the. above describedarm- Q5 to urge the p fiexible resilient blade I3 forwardly against thecigarettes C.

t is believed that the utility and practicability of the cigarette caseand bracket for the same will be readily understood from the foregoingdetailed description. The bracket lil may be very easily and quicklysecured in the selected position in the drivers compartment to be fullyaocessible to the driver. The bracket I is secured in place by one ofthe screws l and does not require the employment of additional securingmeans, such as clamps, bolts, or the like. The case may be loaded withthe cigarettes before or after its arrangement in the bracket I0. Inloading the case the latch 31 is released and the cover l2 is allowed toswing open to expose the empty interior of the case body. One half ofthe original paper package is then removed and the cigarettes arestarted from the package. The projecting portions of the group or bundleof cigarettes is started in the upper end of the case body Il and thecigarettes are pushed half way into the case. The eXible side walls ofthe case body il are then compressed or pressed inwardly to grip thecigarettes C and the bottom half of the paper package is removed. |Thecigarettes C are then fully pushed into the case. These operations, ofcourse, retract the blade I3 and the blade lies close against the rearwall 29 but is urged forwardly against the cigarettes C by its ownresiliency and by the action of the arm i5 or the spring part 52, as thecase may be. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing the blade i3is suiiiciently wide to act on vthe two rows of cigarettes so that aneven pressure is maintained on all of the cigarettes C.

The cover l2 may be normally kept closed. When it is desired to obtain acigarette the latch 31 is released so that the cover l2 swings open.This exposes the upper portions of the cigarettes occupying the forwardpart of the case. The driver of the vehicle or the passengers maywithdraw the cigarette with great ease. As the cigarettes aresuccessively withdrawn the resilient spring urged blade L3 advances theremaining cigarci-tes` toward; the front; of: ther' case,

blade; isz-shaped: anchmountedgtogmaintainf theicig@ aretteszini anupright conditionl and thefridgeszand 43'y assistin thisrespect.I'he-foremostcigarettes: are: always upright. andgfree. forrirnmediateremoval. If desired, the casefmayberwithdrawn from thebracket lito becarried' inthepocketor.- elsewhere. Thecaseisonly slightly larger thanthe conventional paperv package oi,4 cigarettesgand is suitable forcarryinginL the pocket orpocket.

book. When the case is: formed. ofg'transpa-rent material the cigarettes.C are-visible and when-the case.- iscarried inthe bracket Ii)I the,slots 2l permity the. driver to determine thenumber of; cigarettesremaining in the case.`

Havingdescribed only typical preferred. forms and applications ot myinvention, I; donot. wish toy be limited or restricted tothe specificdetailsy herein set forth, but wish toreserve to-myself any variationsormodiiicationsthatmay appear to those skilled` in the art or. fall.withinthe scopeof the following claims.. I

Having described my invention,I I claim:

l. A cigarette--casefcomprising a case body-havingV front and rearwalls, a bottom wall and spaced side walls, the upper edges of,F thesidewalls sloping downwardly tol the. frontl wall to leave the upperparts oi' the. cigare-ttes in theforward portion of the case exposed andaccessible, an upstanding ridge on ther bottom wall extendingtransversely of, the bottom wallL and spaced from the front wall toengage between the frontrow and the second to the front row ofcigarettes, said ridgev serving to, holdthelower parts of saidsece ondto the front row clear of the'front row and to maintain, the cigarettesVin rowathe ridge being` low and shaped to allow advancement, of saidsecond to the front row when the cigarettes, of, the front row havebeeny withdrawn from the case and means for advan cing the. cigarettesforwardly toward the front of, the, case as the, for ward cigarettes arewithdrawn.

2. A cigarette case comprising a case body having front andrear walls, abottom wall. and spaced.v side walls, the upper edges of the side wallssloping downwardly to the front wall te leave the upper parts of thecigarettes in the forwardportion of the case exposed and accessible, ahinged cover for the case body, and a ridge on the under side of thecover for engaging the, upper end of the second to the front row ofcigarettes when the cover is closed to release the adhering an,-gagement of the front row and said second to the front row ofcigarettes.

3. A cigarette case comprising a case body having front and rear walls,a bottom wall and spaced side walls, the upper edges of the side wallssloping downwardlyI to the front wall to leave the upper parts ofthecigarettes in the forward por-` tion of the case exposed and accessible,a hinged cover for the case body, ridges on the under side of thecoverfor engaging the upper ends of the secondv and third rows of'cigarettes when the cover is closed to release the adhering engagementof said rows and to release the adhering engagement of the front andsaid second to the front rows of cigarettes and a ridge on the bottomwalll of the case body for engaging between the forward rows of'cigarettes, the last named ridge extending transversely of the bottomwall and spaced rearwardly from the front wall and being low and shapedto allow advancement of the remaining cigarettes when the cigarettes ofsaidr front row are withdrawn from the case.

PAUL L. M'CCOON.

